Member Avatar for Bremerkd

I have a Dell Opiplex 755 straight off the shelf that has come preloaded with Windows XP. I am trying to install Windows 2000 over top of it by just booting from the disk. The computer will go into the Win2k and start the initial process of loading the OS. However, as soon as it states "Starting Windows 2000" it gives me the blue screen with STOP: 0x7b...Inaccessible boot device. I don't understand why it won't let me boot from the disk. I have done installs like this plenty of times. Thank you all for your help.

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STOP 0x7B at the “Starting Windows 2000” banner means the setup kernel cannot talk to the disk controller the firmware is presenting. On relatively modern desktops that usually isn’t corruption or a bad CD — it’s an incompatibility between the storage controller mode/driver and the very old Win2k installer, which is why the setup never gets to partitioning.

Building on and ’s observations, the least-invasive fix is a firmware change: set the SATA controller from AHCI/RAID/native mode to an ATA/Compatibility/Legacy mode (or disable RAID). That makes the drive appear as a basic IDE device so the stock Win2k installer can see it and proceed. If that option exists, it’s faster and safer than rebuilding install media or repartitioning.

If firmware mode cannot be changed or the controller needs a vendor driver, the other option is to add (inject/slipstream) a Win2k-compatible storage driver into the installation media so the installer can load it during setup. High-level steps: obtain the controller’s Win2k INF/SYS files, copy the entire Win2k CD to a working folder, add the driver files into the i386 tree and register them in txtsetup.sif (then rebuild a bootable ISO). Using the latest Win2k service pack as the source image improves hardware compatibility. This is more technical but avoids changing firmware or hardware.

A practical alternative for preserving the shipped XP install is virtualization: run Windows 2000 inside a VM on the existing machine (VirtualBox/VMware/Hyper-V). The guest sees a simple virtual IDE controller so legacy software usually runs without hardware-driver headaches. Always back up data and any OEM recovery media before changing firmware settings or repartitioning. These options explain why ’s install never reaches partition selection and complement the earlier suggestions in the thread.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

I am trying to install Windows 2000 over top of it by just booting from the disk.

did you delete the partition and create a new one then format the drive first ,

? why are you downgrading your OS to 2000, xp is just 2000 made better!

I don't understand why it won't let me boot from the disk

is the hard drive a sata drive or IDE ,if it sata then you are likely having a drivers issue ,as xp or 2000 have no sata drivers for the motherboard so you will need to hit f6 on boot and load them from a floppy disk

Member Avatar for Bremerkd

The disk never gets to the point where I can select whether or not to delete the partition. I have to install win2k because there is software that I have to install afterwords that will only work with win2k. I am confused on why there would be an issue with a sata drive, it's already got xp loaded, and I don't have a floppy with the drivers you mentioned. Thanks for the help.

-bremerkd

Member Avatar for Member #602369

I have used a Win98 boot disk to do this, just start the machine with the boot floppy disk and once it loads you can delete the partition. Then create a new partition and format it, that's I did on one of my machines and loaded Win 2K pro.

Member Avatar for Bremerkd

I have used a Win98 boot disk to do this, just start the machine with the boot floppy disk and once it loads you can delete the partition. Then create a new partition and format it, that's I did on one of my machines and loaded Win 2K pro.

I'll give it a shot. I just have to find a boot floppy. Thanks.

-Karl

Member Avatar for caperjack

I'll give it a shot. I just have to find a boot floppy. Thanks.

-Karl

www.bootdisk.com

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